Hearing system and finger ring for the hearing system

ABSTRACT

The hearing system comprises a finger ring and a hearing device body. The finger ring includes: a first short-distance wireless communication portion; a vibration output portion disposed at a position that contacts a finger to convert a voice signal, which is received by the first short-distance wireless communication portion, into a cartilage conduction vibration and outputs it; and a first power source portion that supplies power to the first short-distance wireless communication portion and the vibration output portion. The talk device body includes: a second short-distance wireless communication portion that communicates with the first short-distance wireless communication portion; a microphone; a voice signal output portion that makes the second short-distance wireless communication portion output the voice signal according to a voice captured by the microphone; and a second power source portion that supplies power to the second short-distance wireless communication portion, the microphone, and the voice signal output portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hearing system using cartilageconduction and to a finger ring for the hearing system.

BACKGROUND ART

A patent document 1 proposes, as a method for using a bone conductionspeaker that includes a vibration surface pressurized to a tragus toadjust, by means of a manual operation, a pressure between the vibrationsurface and the tragus pressurized against the vibration surface,thereby changing a transmission ratio of voice information due tocartilage conduction and voice information due to air conduction inaccordance with a size of an external noise.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PLT1: JP-4541111

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, to boost usefulness of a hearing system that uses the cartilageconduction, there are many issues to be further studied.

In light of the above issues found by the inventors of the presentapplication, it is an object of the present invention to provide: auseful hearing system that uses the cartilage conduction; and a fingerring for the hearing system.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the above object, a hearing system according to the presentinvention is a hearing system that comprises a finger ring and a hearingdevice main body and has a structure (1st structure), in which thefinger ring includes: a first short-distance wireless communicationportion; a vibration output portion disposed at a position that contactsa finger to convert a voice signal, which is received by the firstshort-distance wireless communication portion, into a cartilageconduction vibration and outputs the cartilage conduction vibration; anda first power source portion that performs electric power supply to thefirst short-distance wireless communication portion and the vibrationoutput portion; and the hearing device main body includes: a secondshort-distance wireless communication portion that performs wirelesscommunication with the first short-distance wireless communicationportion; a microphone; a voice signal output portion that makes thesecond short-distance wireless communication portion output the voicesignal according to a voice captured by the microphone; and a secondpower source portion that performs electric power supply to the secondshort-distance wireless communication portion, the microphone, and thevoice signal output portion.

In the meantime, in the hearing system having the 1st structure, astructure (2nd structure) may be employed, in which the vibration outputportion outputs the cartilage conduction vibration transmittable to anear cartilage via a finger when the finger contacts the ear cartilage.

Besides, in the hearing system having the 1st structure, a structure(3rd structure) may be employed, in which the finger ring furtherincludes a power-source switch that turns on/off a power source of thefirst power source portion; and wherein the second power source portionis remotely controlled in accordance with an on/off-state of thepower-source switch that is transmitted from the first short-distancewireless communication portion via the second short-distance wirelesscommunication portion.

Besides, the hearing system according to the present invention is ahearing system that comprises the finger ring and the hearing devicemain body, and has a structure (4th structure), in which the finger ringincludes: a power-source switch that turns on/off a power source; afirst short-distance wireless communication portion that transmits anon/off-state of the power-source switch; and a first power sourceportion that performs electric power supply to the first short-distancewireless communication portion, and the hearing device main bodyincludes: a second short-distance wireless communication portion thatperforms wireless communication with the first short-distance wirelesscommunication portion; a microphone; a voice signal output portion thatoutputs a voice captured by the microphone as a hearing device voice;and a second power source portion that is remotely controlled inaccordance with the on/off-state of the power-source switch, which istransmitted from the first short-distance wireless communication portionvia the second short-distance wireless communication portion, andperforms electric power supply to the microphone and the voice signaloutput portion.

Besides, the finger ring for the hearing system according to the presentinvention is a finger ring used for the talk system, and has a structure(5th structure), which includes: a short-distance wireless communicationportion; a vibration output portion disposed at a position that contactsa finger to convert a voice signal, which is received by theshort-distance wireless communication portion, into a cartilageconduction vibration and outputs the cartilage conduction vibration; anda power source portion that performs electric power supply to theshort-distance wireless communication portion and the vibration outputportion.

In the meantime, the finger ring having the 5th structure may bestructured (6th structure) to further include a power-source switch thatturns on/off a power source of the power source portion; wherein theshort-distance wireless communication portion outputs an on/off-state ofthe power source portion to outside.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 6th structure, a structure (7thstructure) may be employed, in which the power-source switch includes aself-holding function that holds the on-state for a predeterminedself-time span; and wherein count operation during the self-holding timespan is reset at each turning-on operation of the power source portionand restarted.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 5th structure, a structure (8thstructure) may be employed, in which the vibration output portionincludes a piezoelectric bimorph; and wherein the power source portionincludes a voltage step-up circuit that drives the piezoelectricbimorph.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 5th structure, a structure (9thstructure) may be employed, in which the vibration output portionincludes an electromagnetic vibration portion.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 5th structure, a structure (10thstructure) may be employed, in which the hearing system is a hearing aidsystem.

Besides, the finger ring having the 5th structure may be structured(11th structure) to further include a microphone.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 5th structure, a structure (12thstructure) may be employed, in which the hearing system is for a mobilephone system.

Besides, the finger ring having the 12th structure may be structured(13th structure) to further include a control portion that receives anincoming alert signal via the short-distance wireless communicationportion to make the power source portion start the electric powersupply.

Besides, the finger ring having the 13th structure may be structured(14th structure) to further include an incoming alert vibration portionthat notifies a phone call based on the incoming alert signal.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 14th structure, a structure (15thstructure) may be employed, in which the vibration output portiondoubles as the incoming alert vibration portion.

Besides, the finger ring having the 12th structure may be structured(16th structure) to further include a manual operation switch; whereinthe short-distance wireless communication portion outputs a signalcorresponding to a call/answer operation by the manual switch to themobile phone.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 12th structure, a structure (17thstructure) may be employed, in which the vibration output portionincludes a piezoelectric bimorph; and wherein the power source portionincludes a voltage step-up circuit that drives the piezoelectricbimorph.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 12th structure, a structure (18thstructure) may be employed, in which the vibration output portionincludes an electromagnetic vibration portion.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 5th structure, a structure (19thstructure) may be employed, in which the vibration output portionoutputs the cartilage conduction vibration that is transmittable to anear cartilage via a finger when the finger contacts the ear cartilage.

Besides, in the finger ring having the 19th structure, a structure (20thstructure) may be employed, in which the ear cartilage is of a tragus.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a usefulhearing system that uses the cartilage conduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing schematically a whole picture of ahearing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment (a hearing aidsystem that includes a finger ring and a hearing aid main body) of ahearing system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment (a hearing aidsystem that includes a finger ring only) of a hearing system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment (a hearing aidsystem that includes a finger ring and a mobile phone main body) of ahearing system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment (a finger ringtype mobile phone) of a hearing system.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofa finger ring 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofa main unit 100.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofa power source unit 200.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofa communication unit 300.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

<Whole Picture of System>

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing schematically a whole picture of ahearing system according to the present invention. The hearing system(hearing aid system, mobile phone system and the like) according to thepresent invention has: a finger ring 1; a hearing device main body 2;and an ear piece 3. FIG. 1 shows a structure (of first to fourthembodiments described later, a structure according to the firstembodiment (FIG. 2) and the third embodiment (FIG. 4) especially) inwhich the finger ring 1 and the hearing device main body 2 are disposedseparately from each other. In the meantime, when the finger ring 1 isgoing to be used, the ear piece 3 is demounted from the hearing devicemain body 2, accordingly, usually, the finger ring 1 and the ear piece 3are not expected to be used concurrently.

The finger ring 1 is mounted on a finger A (e.g., a third joint) of auser, converts a voice signal input from the hearing device main body 2into a cartilage conduction vibration, and transmits the cartilageconduction vibration to the finger A. With the cartilage conductionvibration transmitted to the finger A, if the user pressurizes thefinger A against a cartilage C (hereinafter, called an ear cartilage C)near an ear B, the cartilage conduction vibration generated by thefinger ring 1 is transmitted to the ear cartilage C. As a result ofthis, the voice signal from the hearing device main body 2 travels as acartilage conduction sound to a cartilage around an external auditorycanal, is transmitted to an eardrum by air transmission occurring in theexternal auditory canal and part of it is directly transmitted to aninner ear via the cartilage. In the meantime, the example of the earcartilage which is the pressurization target of the finger A is acartilage which includes a tragus and is situated around an entranceportion of the external auditory canal. The pressurization target of thefinger A is not limited to this, and various ear cartilage parts may beused; however, the cartilage around the entrance portion of the externalauditory canal including the tragus is effective to generate an airtransmission sound in the external auditory canal based on the cartilageconduction and the ear hole is generally recognized as a part to hear asound, and is a preferred part to trigger an unconscious action ofpressurizing the finger A against the ear. Besides, according to thisaction, when pressuring the finger A against the entrance portion of theexternal auditory canal, the finger A naturally hits the protrudingtragus, accordingly, especially, the tragus draws attention as a contactportion. Further, the tragus has a structure to close the ear hole whenpushed, accordingly, is preferable to obtain an earplug bone conductioneffect described later. In the meantime, the structure and operation ofthe finger ring 1 are described in detail later.

The hearing device main body 2 is carried (in a breast pocket and thelike) by the user and transmits a voice signal to the finer ring 1 andthe ear piece 3. For example, in a case where the hearing systemaccording to the present invention is a hearing aid system, the hearingaid main body serves as the hearing device main body 2, and a voicedetected by a microphone is converted into an electric signal andtransmitted to the finger ring 1 and the ear piece 3. Besides, in a casewhere the hearing system according to the present invention is a mobilephone system, the mobile phone main body serves as the hearing devicemain body 2, and a voice signal received via a telephone line istransmitted to the finger ring 1 and the ear piece 3. In the meantime,the structure and operation of the hearing device main body 2 aredescribed in detail later.

The ear piece 3 is an acoustic small-sized speaker that converts thevoice signal input from the hearing device main body 2 into an airvibration. Accordingly, if the ear piece 3 is mounted on the ear B, thevoice signal from the hearing device main body 2 is transmitted as anair conduction sound to an auditory nerve (inner ear) via the eardrum(middle ear).

The hearing system according to the present invention is usable, forexample, as a preferred hearing aid system for a user who is becoming alittle hard of hearing. The user of this hearing aid system does notusually mount the ear piece 3 onto the ear B, but pressurizestemporarily the finger A against the ear cartilage C only in a casewhere the hearing aid is needed (e.g., a case where the other person'svoice is low or far), whereby it becomes possible to aid the hearing ofthe voice by using the cartilage conduction. In the meantime, the actionof pressurizing the finger A against the ear cartilage C resembles anatural action of hearing the other person's voice, which accordinglydoes not give a strange feeling to the user, the other person and peoplearound. Besides, by increasing the pressurization force of the finger Ato close the external auditory canal by means of the tragus and the likeor to close directly the external auditory canal by means of the fingertip, it also becomes possible to increase the hearing capability thanksto the so-called earplug bone conduction effect. In the meantime, thehearing device main body 2 is structured to aid the hearing in the sameway as an existing hearing aid system if connected when the user wantsto mount the ear piece 3 onto the ear B.

As described above, according to the hearing aid system that includesthe finger ring 1 for transmitting the cartilage conduction vibration tothe ear cartilage C via the finger A, the user can enjoy daily lifewithout mounting the uncomfortable ear piece 3 as long as the hearingaid is not needed. Besides, in the case where the hearing aid is needed,the user can speedily aid the hearing of the voice thanks to the naturalaction of pressurizing the finger A against the ear cartilage C.Besides, the finger ring 1 is mounted on the finger A, accordingly,causes less uncomfortable feeling than the ear piece 3 mounted on theear B, and it also becomes possible to dramatically reduce a physicalburden or a mental burden on the user.

In the meantime, FIG. 1 shows, as an example, the structure in which thefinger ring 1 and the hearing device main body 2 are disposed separatelyfrom each other; however, the structure of the present invention is notlimited to this, and the function of the hearing device main body 2 maybe suitably built in the finger ring 1. As to these variations, of firstto fourth embodiments described hereinafter, the second embodiment (FIG.3) and the fourth embodiment (FIG. 5) are especially described indetail.

First Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a block diagram which shows a first embodiment (a hearing aidsystem that includes a finger ring and a hearing aid main body) of thehearing system, and shows a structure equivalent to the schematic viewof FIG. 1. The hearing aid system according to the first embodiment hasa finger ring 100 and a hearing aid main body 200.

The finger ring 100 is equivalent to the finger ring 1 in FIG. 1 andincludes: a piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion101; a drive portion 102; a control portion 103; a power source portion104; a voltage step-up circuit 105; a self-holding timer 106; a remotecontrol switch operation portion 107; and a short-distance communicationportion 108.

The piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 101 isa vibration output portion that generates and transmits a cartilageconduction vibration to the finger A (see FIG. 1). The piezoelectricbimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 101 is disposed at aposition to contact the finger A with the finger ring 100 mounted on thefinger A. The piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibrationportion 101 needs to be supplied with a step-up voltage as apiezoelectric bimorph drive voltage from the voltage step-up circuit105. Thanks to a combination of the piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 101 and the voltage step-up circuit 105, itbecomes possible to achieve a compact cartilage conduction vibrationportion suitable for the mounting onto the finger ring 100. However, thetype of the cartilage conduction vibration portion is not limited to thetype that uses the piezoelectric bimorph, and for example, anelectromagnetic cartilage conduction vibration potion may be used. Inthe meantime, in a case where the electromagnetic cartilage conductionvibration portion is used, the voltage step-up circuit is not necessary,accordingly, it becomes possible to simplify the circuit structure.

The drive portion 102 drives the piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 101 based on an instruction from thecontrol portion 103.

The control portion 103 is a main body (e.g., CPU [Central ProcessingUnit]) that comprehensively controls operation of the finger ring 100.For example, the control portion 103 performs drive control of thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 101 via thedrive portion 102 such that a voice signal received by theshort-distance communication portion 108 is converted into a cartilageconduction vibration and output.

The power source portion 104 generates a predetermined internal voltagefrom a battery voltage and performs electric power supply to eachportion of the finger ring 100.

The voltage step-up circuit 105 steps up the internal voltage generatedby the power source portion 104 to produce a drive voltage for thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 101. In themeantime, as the voltage step-up circuit 105, it is possible to use avoltage step-up switching regulator and a voltage step-up charge pump.

The self-holding timer 106 is a power source switch that sends aninstruction to the control portion 103 and the power source portion 104such that the finger ring 100 is kept in an on-state for a predeterminedself-holding time span Ton (e.g., 5 minutes) after a power sourceturning-on operation is received by the remote control switch operationportion 107. In the meantime, count operation of the self-holding timespan Ton performed by the self-holding timer 106 is reset and restartedat every time the power source turning-on operation is received by theremote control switch operation portion 107. Accordingly, in a casewhere another power source turning-on operation is received by theremote control switch operation portion 107 during the count operationof the self-holding time Ton performed by the self-holding timer 106,the power source turning-on period of the finger ring 100 is extendedsuch that the finger ring 100 is kept in the on-state for theself-holding time span Ton from the reception time point. On the otherhand, in a case where the power source turning-on operation is notreceived by the remote control switch operation portion 107 during theself-holding time span Ton, the self-holding timer 106 sends aninstruction to the control portion 103 and the power source portion 104such that the finger ring 100 is switched to an off-state.

According to this structure including the self-holding timer 106, thepower source turning-on operation is received by the remote controlswitch operation portion 107, the finger ring 100 is kept in theon-state for the self-holding time span Ton, thereafter, the finger ring100 is automatically switched to the off-state. Accordingly, it ispossible to perform the hearing aid for a relatively long time withoutrequiring the complicated power source turning-on/off operations.Besides, upon the self-holding time span Ton passing, the power sourceis automatically turned off, accordingly, it is possible to alleviatewasteful power consumption of the finger ring 100.

Besides, according to the structure including the self-holding timer106, the count of the self-holding time span Ton restarts after the lastoperation by only repeating the power source turning-on operations atshort natural timings shorter than the self-holding time span Ton, it ispossible to extend the power source turning-on period of the finger ring100.

In the meantime, for example, as described in the example, in the casewhere a piezoelectric bimorph is used as the cartilage conductionvibration portion 101, there is a case where it takes a predeterminedtime span for the drive voltage to reach a predetermined target valuedepending on the voltage step-up circuit and it is impossible to performthe hearing aid using the cartilage conduction immediately after thestartup of the finger ring 100. Because of this, if the power sourceturning-on operation of the finger ring 100 is performed whenevernecessary, there is a risk that an important talk immediately after theturning-on of the power source could be missed. In contrast to this,according to the structure including the self-holding timer 106, it ispossible to keep the power source portion 104 and the voltage step-upcircuit 105 in the on-state after the power source turning-on operationis received by the remote control switch operation portion 107,accordingly, it becomes possible to reduce the risk that the abovedisadvantage could occur.

The remote control switch operation portion 107 is a user interface thatreceives the power source turning-on operation of the finger ring 100.For example, in a case where a push button is used as the remote controlswitch operation portion 107, the use can perform the power sourceturning-on operation of the finger ring 100 by only pushing the remotecontrol switch operation portion 107 one time.

Based on the instruction from the control portion 103, theshort-distance communication portion 108 performs wireless communicationwith a short-distance communication portion 201 disposed in the hearingaid main body 200. In a specific example, the short-distancecommunication portion 108 receives a voice signal from theshort-distance communication portion 201 and sends the voice signal tothe control portion 103. Besides, the short-distance communicationportion 108 transmits a remote control switch operation signal from thecontrol portion 103 to the short-distance communication portion 201. Theremote control switch operation signal is an information signal thatindicates whether the power source turning-on operation is received bythe remote control switch operation portion 107 or not, in other words,whether the finger ring 100 is in the on-state or not. In the meantime,as the short-distance communication portion 108, it is possible tosuitably use a wireless communication module IC in conformity withwireless communication standards such as Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) and the like.

The hearing aid main body 200 is equivalent to the hearing device mainbody 2 in FIG. 1 and includes: the short-distance communication portion201; an ear piece connection portion 202; a control portion 203; a voicesignal output portion 204; a microphone 205; a switch operation portion206; a power source switch 207; and a power source portion 208.

Based on an instruction from the control portion 203, the short-distancecommunication portion 201 performs wireless communication with theshort-distance communication portion 108 disposed in the finger ring100. In a specific example, the short-distance communication portion 201transmits a voice signal from the control portion 203 to theshort-distance communication portion 108. Besides, the short-distancecommunication portion 201 receives a remote control switch operationsignal from the short-distance communication portion 108 and sends thesignal to the control portion 203. In the meantime, as theshort-distance communication portion 201, it is possible to suitably usea wireless communication module IC in conformity with wirelesscommunication standards such as Zigbee (registered trademark), Bluetooth(registered trademark) and the like.

The ear piece connection portion 202 is an interface for connecting theacoustic ear piece 3 (see FIG. 1). According to the structure thatincludes the ear piece connection portion 202, on the basis of anexisting hearing aid system that includes the general ear piece 3 (seeFIG. 1) and the hearing aid main body 200, it is possible to compose ahearing aid system that has the finger ring 100 of the cartilageconduction type.

The control portion 203 is a main body (e.g., CPU) that comprehensivelycontrols operation of the hearing aid main body 200. For example, whenthe hearing aid main body 200 is set at a standby state, the controlportion 203 monitors the remote control switch operation signal(on/off-states of the finger ring 100) transmitted via theshort-distance communication portion 201 and performs remote control(on/off control) of the power source switch 207 in accordance with theremote control switch operation signal.

As to the hearing aid system, a battery capacity (battery drive timespan) is a special issue. Accordingly, the control portion 203 iscomposed to put the hearing aid main body 200 (more specifically, thepower source switch 207) into an on-state associating with the on-stateof the finger ring 100. According to this structure, it becomes possibleto reduce power consumption of the entire hearing aid system as small aspossible when the hearing aid is not necessary and to put the entirehearing aid system into an on-state as soon as the hearing aid becomesnecessary.

Besides, in the case where the hearing aid is performed by using the earpiece 3 (see FIG. 1), it is also possible to use the finger ring 100 asa remote controller (remote power source switch) of the hearing aid mainbody 200. According to this structure, it becomes not only unnecessaryto prepare an additional remote controller of the hearing aid main body200 but also it becomes less risky to lose the remote controller. In themeantime, in a case where the finger ring 100 is equipped with only theremote control function of the hearing aid main body 200, of theconstituent components shown in FIG. 2, the piezoelectric bimorphcartilage conduction vibration portion 101, the drive portion 102 andthe voltage step-up circuit 105 become unnecessary.

The voice signal output portion 204 applies various signal processes(noise removal process and the like) to a voice signal generated by themicrophone 205 and outputs the processed voice signal to the controlportion 203.

The microphone 205 converts a voice from around into an electric voicesignal.

The switch operation portion 206 is a user interface for receiving afunction switchover operation of the hearing aid main body 200. Thereare three function states prepared (normally on-state, normallyoff-state, and standby state) for the hearing aid main body 200. In thenormally on-state, without depending on the on/off-states of the fingerring 100, the hearing aid main body 200 is always put into the on-state.This function state may be selected in a case where the hearing aid isconstantly performed by using the ear piece 3 (see FIG. 1). In thenormally off-state, without depending on the on/off-states of the fingerring 100, the hearing aid main body 200 is always put into theoff-state. This function state may be selected in a case where thehearing aid is not necessary at all (a case where the user is sleepingand the like). In the standby state, as described above, theon/off-states of the hearing aid main body 200 are remotely controlledassociating with the on/off-states of the finger ring 100. This functionstate may be selected in a case where the hearing aid is performed byusing the finger ring 100 in an emergency.

Based on the instruction from the control portion 203 and the switchcontrol portion 206, the power source switch 207 performs on/off controlof the power source portion 208.

The power source portion 208 generates a predetermined internal voltagefrom the battery voltage and performs electric power supply to eachportion of the hearing aid main body 200. In the meantime, in a casewhere the hearing aid main body 200 is kept in the standby state, thepower source portion 208 continues electric power supply to a circuitblock (the control portion 201 and the short-distance communicationportion 203) that is necessary to await and receive the remote controlswitch operation signal wirelessly transmitted from the finger ring 100,and stops the electric power supply to the other circuit blocks.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment (a hearing aidsystem that includes a finger ring only) of the hearing system. A fingerring 300 forming a hearing aid system according to the second embodimenthas a combined structure of the finger ring 100 and hearing aid mainbody 200 in FIG. 2 and includes: a piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 301; a drive portion 302; a control portion303; a power source portion 304; a voltage step-up circuit 305; aself-holding timer 306; a remote control switch operation portion 307; amicrophone 308; a voice signal output portion 309; and an echo canceller310.

Of the constituent components shown in FIG. 3, the piezoelectric bimorphcartilage conduction vibration portion 301, the drive portion 302, thecontrol portion 303, the power source portion 304, the voltage step-upportion 305, the self-holding timer 306, the remote control switchoperation portion 307, the microphone 308, the voice signal outputportion 309 are equivalent to the piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 101, the drive portion 102, the controlportion 103, the power source portion 104, the voltage step-up portion105, the self-holding timer 106, the remote control switch operationportion 107, the microphone 205, the voice signal output portion 204 inFIG. 2, respectively. Accordingly, hereinafter, description is performedfocusing on characterizing constituent components and operation of thesecond embodiment, and description overlapping the first embodiment issuitably skipped.

The control portion 303 performs drive control of the piezoelectricbimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 301 via the drive portion302 such that a voice signal transmitted from the voice signal outputportion 309 via the echo canceller 310 is converted into a cartilageconduction vibration and output.

The echo canceller 310 generates, by means of an adapted filter, aquasi-echo signal from a drive signal that is supplied from the driveportion 302 to the piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibrationportion 301, and adds the quasi-echo signal to the voice signal from thevoice signal output portion 309. According to the structure in which theecho canceller 310 is disposed, it becomes possible to suitably cancelan echo component (vibration component of the piezoelectric bimorphcartilage conduction vibration portion 301 detected by the microphone308) contained in the voice signal from the voice signal output portion309.

As described above, according to the hearing aid system that uses thefinger ring 300 incorporating the microphone, the hearing aid main bodybecomes unnecessary, accordingly, it becomes possible to raise mobilityof the hearing aid system.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment (a mobile phonesystem that includes a finger ring and a mobile phone main body) of thehearing system. The mobile phone system according to the thirdembodiment has a finger ring type voice transmission/receptionattachment 400 and a mobile phone main body 500.

The finger ring type call/answer attachment 400 is equivalent to thefinger ring 1 in FIG. 1 and includes: a piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 401; a drive portion 402; a control portion403; a power source portion 404; a voltage step-up circuit 405; amicrophone 406; a voice signal output portion 407; an echo canceller408; a short-distance communication portion 409; and a call/answeroperation portion 410.

The piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401 isa vibration output portion that generates and transmits a cartilageconduction vibration to the finger A (see FIG. 1). The piezoelectricbimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401 is disposed at aposition to contact the finger A with the finger ring type voicetransmission/reception attachment 400 mounted on the finger A. Thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401 needsto be supplied with a step-up voltage as a piezoelectric bimorph drivevoltage from the voltage step-up circuit 405. Thanks to a combination ofthe piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401 andthe voltage step-up circuit 405, it becomes possible to achieve acompact cartilage conduction vibration portion suitable for the mountingonto the finger ring type voice transmission/reception attachment 400.However, the type of the cartilage conduction vibration portion is notlimited to the type that uses the piezoelectric bimorph, and forexample, an electromagnetic cartilage conduction vibration portion maybe used. In the meantime, in a case where the electromagnetic cartilageconduction vibration portion is used, the voltage step-up circuit is notnecessary, accordingly, it becomes possible to simplify the circuitstructure.

The drive portion 402 drives the piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 401 based on an instruction from thecontrol portion 403.

The control portion 403 is a main body (e.g., CPU) that comprehensivelycontrols operation of the finger ring type voice transmission/receptionattachment 400. For example, the control portion 403 performs drivecontrol of the piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibrationportion 401 via the drive portion 402 such that an incoming voice signalreceived by the short-distance communication portion 409 is convertedinto a cartilage conduction vibration and output. Besides, the controlportion 403 performs communication control of the short-distancecommunication portion 409 such that an outgoing voice signal generatedby the microphone 406 is wirelessly transmitted to the mobile phone mainbody 500.

Besides, the control portion 403 performs drive control of thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401 via thedrive portion 402 such that an incoming alert vibration is generated inaccordance with an incoming signal from the mobile phone main body 500.According to this structure, it becomes possible to notify the user ofan incoming to the mobile phone main body 500. In the meantime, if thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401 doublesas an incoming alert vibration portion, size enlargement of the fingerring type voice transmission/reception attachment 400 is not incurred.Of course, separately from the piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 401, an incoming alert vibration portiondedicated to the incoming alert may be disposed.

Besides, when the incoming alert signal from the mobile phone main body500 is received by the short-distance communication portion 409, or whenthe user's call operation is received by the call/answer operationportion 410, the control portion 403 performs on/off control of thepower source portion 404 such that electric power supply to the fingerring type voice transmission/reception attachment 400 is started.According to this structure, it becomes possible to reduce powerconsumption of the finger ring type voice transmission/receptionattachment 400 and to extend the battery drive time span.

The power source portion 404 generates a predetermined internal voltagefrom the battery voltage and performs electric power supply to eachportion of the finger ring type voice transmission/reception attachment400. In the meantime, in a case where the finger ring type voicetransmission/reception attachment 400 is kept in a standby state, thepower source portion 404 continues awaiting and receiving the incomingalert signal wirelessly transmitted from the mobile phone main body 500and electric power supply to a circuit block (the control portion 403,the short-distance communication portion 409 and the call/answeroperation portion 410) that is necessary to await and receive the calloperation by the user, and stops the electric power supply to the othercircuit blocks.

The voltage step-up circuit 405 steps up an internal voltage generatedby the power source portion 404 to produce a drive voltage for thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401. In themeantime, as the voltage step-up circuit 405, it is possible to use avoltage step-up switching regulator and a voltage step-up charge pump.

The microphone 406 converts a voice (voice released from the user) fromaround into an electric voice signal.

The voice signal output portion 407 applies various signal processes(noise removal process and the like) to the voice signal generated bythe microphone 406 and outputs the processed voice signal to the echocanceller 408.

The echo canceller 408 generates a quasi-echo signal from a drive signalthat is supplied from the drive portion 402 to the piezoelectric bimorphcartilage conduction vibration portion 401, adds the quasi-echo signalto the voice signal from the voice signal output portion 407 and outputsthe signal to the control portion 403. According to the structure inwhich the echo canceller 408 is disposed, it becomes possible tosuitably cancel an echo component (vibration component of thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 401detected by the microphone 406) contained in the voice signal from thevoice signal output portion 407.

Based on an instruction from the control portion 403, the short-distancecommunication portion 409 performs wireless communication with theshort-distance communication portion 501 disposed in the mobile phoneman body 400. In a specific example, the short-distance communicationportion 409 receives an incoming voice signal from the short-distancecommunication portion 501 and transmits the signal to the controlportion 403. Besides, the short-distance communication portion 409transmits a signal (hereinafter, called a call/answer operation signal)corresponding to a call/answer operation received by the call/answeroperation portion 410 and transmits the signal to the short-distancecommunication portion 501. In the meantime, as the short-distancecommunication portion 409, it is possible to suitably use a wirelesscommunication module IC in conformity with wireless communicationstandards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and the like.

The call/answer operation portion 410 is a user interface (manualoperation switch) that receives a call/answer operation by the user.

The mobile phone main body 500 is equivalent to the hearing device mainbody 2 in FIG. 1 and includes: the short-distance communication portion501; a voice signal input portion 502; a voice signal output portion503; a telephone function portion 504; a microphone 505; a speaker 506;a display portion 507; a storage portion 508; a control portion 509; apower source portion 510; a power source switch 511; and a switchoperation portion 512.

Based on an instruction from the control portion 509, the short-distancecommunication portion 501 performs wireless communication with theshort-distance communication portion 409 disposed in the finger ringtype voice transmission/reception attachment 400. In a specific example,the short-distance communication portion 501 transmits an incoming voicesignal from the voice signal output portion 503 to the short-distancecommunication portion 409. Besides, the short-distance communicationportion 501 receives an outgoing voice signal from the short-distancecommunication portion 409 and sends the signal to the voice signal inputportion 502. Besides, the short-distance communication portion 501receives the call/answer operation signal from the short-distancecommunication portion 409 and transmits the signal to the controlportion 509. In the meantime, as the short-distance communicationportion 501, it is possible to suitably use a wireless communicationmodule IC in conformity with wireless communication standards such asBluetooth (registered trademark) and the like. Accordingly, theshort-distance communication portion 501 can perform the short-distancewireless communication with not only the finger ring type voicetransmission/reception attachment 400 but also voicetransmission/reception attachments such as a vehicle audio device, ahead set and the like.

The voice signal input portion 502 sends the outgoing voice signalreceived by the short-distance communication portion 501 to thetelephone function portion 504 (especially, a voice transmission portion504 a).

The voice signal output portion 503 sends the incoming voice signalreceived by the telephone function portion 504 (especially, voicereception portion 504 b) to the short-distance communication portion501.

The telephone function portion 504 is able to perform a voice talk via awireless telephone line by using the voice transmission portion 504 aand the voice reception portion 504 b. Besides, the telephone functionportion 504 is also able to perform data communication via the wirelesstelephone line by using the telephone communication portion 504 c.

Besides, the telephone function portion 504 includes a function toswitch input/output ports of the voice transmission portion 504 a andvoice reception portion 504 b in accordance with whether theshort-distance wireless communication is performed or not between themobile phone main body 500 and an external device (in FIG. 4, the fingerring type voice transmission/reception attachment 400) via theshort-distance communication portion 501. For example, in a case wherethe short-distance wireless communication is performed between themobile phone main body 500 and the finger ring type voicetransmission/reception attachment 400, the outgoing voice signal istransmitted from the voice signal input portion 502 to the voicetransmission portion 504 a, while the incoming voice signal istransmitted from the voice reception portion 504 b to the voice signaloutput portion 503. On the other hand, in a case where theshort-distance wireless communication is not performed between themobile phone main body 500 and the finger ring type voicetransmission/reception attachment 400, the outgoing voice signal istransmitted from the microphone 505 to the voice transmission portion504 a, while the incoming voice signal is transmitted from the voicereception portion 504 b to the speaker 506. In other words, in theformer case, a voice talk using the finger ring type voicetransmission/reception attachment 400 is performed, while in the lattercase, a voice talk using the mobile phone main body 500 only isperformed.

The microphone 505 converts a voice (voice released from the user) fromaround into an electric voice signal and transmits the electric voicesignal to the voice transmission portion 504 a. In the meantime, themicrophone 505 acquires a outgoing voice during the voice talk time thatuses the mobile phone main body 500 only.

The speaker 506 outputs a incoming alert voice and various guide voicesin accordance with control from the control portion 509. Besides, alsothe speaker 506 outputs a incoming voice during the voice talk time thatuses the mobile phone main body 500 only. In the meantime, as thespeaker 506, it is also possible to use the ear piece 3 in FIG. 1.

The display portion 507 displays a letter and an image in accordancewith the control from the control portion 509. In the meantime, as thedisplay portion 507, it is possible to preferably use a liquid crystaldisplay and an organic EL [Electro Luminescence] display.

The storage portion 508 stores various programs that are read by thecontrol portion 509 and executed. Besides, the storage portion 508 isalso used as a temporary storage area for data necessary to theoperation of the control portion 509 and as a deploy area for variousprograms.

The control portion 509 is a main body (e.g., CPU) that comprehensivelycontrols the operation of the mobile phone main body 500.

The power source portion 510 generates a predetermined internal voltagefrom the battery voltage and performs electric power supply to eachportion of the mobile phone main body 500.

Based on instructions from the control portion 509 and the switchoperation portion 512, the power source switch 510 performs on/offcontrol of the power source portion 510.

The switch operation portion 512 is a user interface that receives auser operation. In the meantime, as the switch operation portion 512, itis possible to preferably use various keys and buttons, a touch paneland the like.

As described above, the mobile phone system is built by using the fingerring type voice transmission/reception attachment 400 that includes acartilage conduction vibrator and a small-sized microphone, whereby itbecomes possible for the user to perform the incoming confirmation andthe voice talk without using the mobile phone main body 500. In themeantime, the cartilage conduction vibrator can double as a manner modevibrator. In this case, the vibration is not captured by an ear but by afinger, accordingly, it is not necessary to set the vibration frequencyinto an audible band and is also possible to set a low frequency that iseasily captured by the finger. In the meantime, the manner mode vibratoris not limited to the case to double as the cartilage conductionvibrator, and another vibrator may be employed.

In the meantime, in FIG. 4, the structure, in which only one finger ringtype voice transmission/reception attachment 400 is connected to themobile phone main body 500, is described as an example; however, thestructure of the present invention is not limited to this, and astructure may be employed, in which the cartilage conduction vibrator,the small-sized microphone and another manner mode vibrator functionportion are housed separately from one another in a plurality of thefinger ring type voice transmission/reception attachments and connectedto one another over the short-distance communication. According to thisstructure, for example, by housing the cartilage conduction vibratorinto a first finger ring type voice transmission/reception attachmentmounted on a finger of one hand that easily touches a dominant ear andby housing the small-sized microphone into a second finger ring typevoice transmission/reception attachment mounted on a finger of the otherhand, it becomes possible to achieve reduction in howling. Besides, asmall amount of information is ample for control of the manner modevibrator, it is also possible to employ short-distance communicationmeans such as Zigbee (registered trademark) and the like. In themeantime, as the block 500 in the third embodiment, not only ausual-sized mobile phone but also a large-screen mobile communicationterminal having the telephone function may be employed. In this case,the “mobile phone main body 500” in FIG. 4 is replaced with a“large-screen mobile communication terminal 500” and the like.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment (finger ring typemobile phone) of the hearing system. A finger ring type mobile phone 600forming the hearing system according to the fourth embodiment has acombined structure of the finger ring type voice transmission/receptionattachment 400 and the mobile phone main body 500 in FIG. 4 andincludes: a piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion601; a drive portion 602; a voice transmission/reception functioncontrol portion 603; a power source portion 604; a voltage step-upcircuit 605; a microphone 606; a voice signal output portion 607; anecho canceller 608; a voice signal output portion 609; a voice signaloutput portion 610; a telephone function portion 611; a display portion612; a storage portion 613; a mobile phone function control portion 614;a power source portion 615; a power source switch 616; and a switchoperation portion 617.

Of the constituent components shown in FIG. 5, the piezoelectric bimorphcartilage conduction vibration portion 601, the drive portion 602, thevoice transmission/reception function control portion 603, the powersource portion 604, the voltage step-up portion 605, the microphone 606,the voice signal output portion 607, the echo canceller 608, the voicesignal input portion 609, the voice signal output portion 610, thetelephone function portion 611, the display portion 612, the storageportion 613, the mobile phone function control portion 614, the powersource portion 615, the power source switch 616, and the switchoperation portion 617 are equivalent to the piezoelectric bimorphcartilage conduction vibration portion 401, the drive portion 402, thecontrol portion 403, the power source portion 404, the voltage step-upportion 405, the microphone 406, the voice signal output portion 407,the echo canceller 408, the voice signal input portion 502, the voicesignal output portion 503, the telephone function portion 503, thedisplay portion 507, the storage portion 508, the control portion 509,the power source portion 510, the power source switch 511, and theswitch operation portion 512 in FIG. 4, respectively.

In other words, it is sayable that the finger ring type mobile phone 600has a structure in which finger ring type voice transmission/receptionattachment 400 and the mobile phone main body 500 in FIG. 4 are combinedwith each other and the unnecessary short-distance communicationportions 409 and 501 are removed. According to the finger ring typemobile phone 600, the mobile phone main body becomes unnecessary,accordingly, it becomes possible to raise mobility of the mobile phonesystem.

<Finger Ring>

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofthe finger ring 1. The finger ring 1 in the present structural examplehas a structure that gives the cartilage conduction vibration to a thirdjoint of the finger A, more specifically, a finger ring structure that smounted on the third joint of the finger A to give the cartilageconduction vibration. In the meantime, taking a close look atconstituent components, the finger ring 1 in the present structuralexample has: a main unit 10; a power source unit 20; a communicationunit 30; a cable 40; and a finger ring type housing 50.

The main unit 10 is a unit that gives the cartilage conduction vibrationmainly to the finger A and is housed in the finger ring type housing 50to oppose the back of the finger A when the finger ring type housing 50is mounted on the finger A. In the meantime, an internal structure andoperation of the main unit 10 are described in detail later.

The power source unit 20 is a unit that performs electric power supplymainly to the main unit 10 and the communication unit 30 and is housedin the finger ring type housing 50 to oppose the back of the finger Awhen the finger ring type housing 50 is mounted on the finger A. In themeantime, an internal structure and operation of the power source unit20 are described in detail later.

The communication unit 30 is a unit that performs wireless communicationmainly with the hearing device main body 2 and is housed in the fingerring type housing 50 to oppose the back of the finger A when the fingerring type housing 50 is mounted on the finger A. In the meantime, aninternal structure and operation of the communication unit 30 aredescribed in detail later.

The cable 40 is housed in the finger ring type housing 50 toelectrically connect the main unit 10, the power source unit 20 and thecommunication unit 30 to one another.

The finger ring type housing 50 houses the main unit 10; the powersource unit 20; the communication unit 30; and the cable 40, and ismounted on the third joint of the finger A.

As described above, according to the finger ring 1 mounted on the thirdjoint of the finger A, as long as the user does not intentionally try todemount the finger ring 1 from the finger A, there is almost no riskthat the finger ring 1 could come off the finger A in daily life,accordingly, it becomes possible to build a hearing system that does notrestrict the user's action.

In the meantime, if the finger ring type housing 50 is formed of aflexible material (silicone rubber and the like), it becomes possible togive a great degree of freedom to the mountable size of the finger ring1.

Besides, it is desirable that the finger ring type housing 50 is formedto have a waterproof structure. According to this structure, even ifbeing wet with water (rain) and sweat, the finger ring type housingbecomes unlikely to malfunction. Besides, in a case where the fingerring 1 is shared with many people, by washing the whole finger ring typehousing 50, it becomes possible to keep the finger ring 1 clean.

Besides, in the above structural example, the structure, in which themain unit 10, the power source unit 20, and the communication unit 30are units independent of one another, is described as an example;however, the structure of the present invention is not limited to this,and the plurality of units may be grouped into one. Besides, also thehousing positions of the main unit 10, the power source unit 20, and thecommunication unit 30 in the finger ring type housing 50 are not limitedto the above structural example.

<Main Unit>

FIG. 7 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofthe main unit 10. The main unit 10 in the present structural exampleincludes: a first board 11; a piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conductionvibration portion 12; a control portion 13; a drive portion 14; aconnector 15; a second board 16; and an operation portion 17.

The piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 12 ismounted on a front surface of the first board 11, while the controlportion 13 and the drive portion 14 are directly mounted on a rearsurface of the first board 11. Besides, the first board 11 is alsoconnected to the cable 40 for performing electrical connection betweenthe power source unit 20 and the communication unit 30. In the meantime,electrical connection is performed between the front surface and therear surface of the first board 11 via a through-hole and a via. Asdescribed above, by effectively using both surfaces of the first board11, it is possible to reduce the area of the first board 11,accordingly, it becomes possible to limit the main unit 10 to a sizethat does not become larger than the third joint of the finger A, whichdoes not give a feeling of the mounting of the finger ring 1 to theuser.

The piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 12 is avibration output portion that generates and transmits the cartilageconduction vibration to the finger A (see FIG. 1), and is equivalent tothe above piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion101 (FIG. 2), the piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibrationportion 301 (FIG. 3), the piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conductionvibration portion 401 (FIG. 4), or the piezoelectric bimorph cartilageconduction vibration portion 601 (FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 7, thepiezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion 12 isdisposed at a position to contact the finger A with the finger ring 1mounted on the finger A.

The control portion 13 is a main body (e.g., CPU) that comprehensivelycontrols the operation of the finger ring 1, and is equivalent to theabove control portion 103 (FIG. 2), the control portion 303 (FIG. 3),the control portion 403 (FIG. 4), or the voice transmission/receptionfunction control portion 603 and mobile phone function control portion614 (FIG. 5).

The drive portion 14 is a driver that drives the piezoelectric bimorphcartilage conduction vibration portion 12 in accordance with aninstruction from the control portion 13, and is equivalent to the abovedrive portion 102 (FIG. 2), the drive portion 302 (FIG. 3), the driveportion 402 (FIG. 4), or the drive portion 602 (FIG. 5).

The connector 15 is an electroconductive portion that vertically stacksup the first board 11 and the second board 16.

The operation portion 17 is directly mounted on a front surface of thesecond board 16, while the connector 15 is connected to a rear surfaceof the second board 16. In the meantime, electrical connection isperformed between the front surface and the rear surface of the secondboard 16 via a through-hole and a via.

As described above, by employing the stacked-up structure of theplurality of boards, compared with a structure in which all circuitelements are mounted on one board, it is possible to reduce therespective areas of the first board 11 and the second board 16.Accordingly, it becomes possible to limit the main unit 10 to a sizethat does not become larger than the third joint of the finger A, whichdoes not give a feeling of the mounting of the finger ring 1 to theuser.

The operation portion 17 is a user interface that receives the user'soperation, and is equivalent to the above remote control switchoperation portion 107 (FIG. 2), the switch operation portion 307 (FIG.3), the call/answer operation portion 410 (FIG. 4), or the switchoperation portion 617 (FIG. 5). In the meantime, a structure may beemployed, in which to avoid a careless erroneous operation in a casewhere the hand's back collides with a door and the like and in othersuch cases, the operation portion 17 is not mounted on an upper surfaceof the finger ring as shown in FIG. 7 but on a side surface of thefinger ring.

<Power Source Unit>

FIG. 8 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofthe power source unit 20. The power source unit 20 in the presentstructural example includes: a board 21; a battery 22; a power sourceportion 23; a voltage step-up circuit 24; and a recharge circuit 25.

The battery 22 is mounted on a front surface of the board 21, while thepower source portion 23, the voltage step-up circuit 24 and the rechargecircuit 25 are directly mounted on a rear surface of the board 21.Besides, the board 21 is also connected to the cable 40 for performingelectrical connection with the main unit 10. In the meantime, electricalconnection is performed between the front surface and the rear surfaceof the board 21 via a through-hole and a via. As described above, byeffectively using both surfaces of the board 21, it is possible toreduce the area of the board 21, accordingly, it becomes possible toachieve size reduction of the power source unit 20, which does not givea feeling of the mounting of the finger ring 1 to the user.

The battery 22 is an electric power supply source necessary for thedriving of the finger ring 1, and it is possible to preferably use alithium ion secondary battery, an electric double-layer capacitor andthe like. As described above, according to the finger ring 1 of thebattery drive type, it is not necessary to connect an external electricpower supply cable, accordingly, it is possible to avoid restricting theuser's action when building the hearing system that use the finger ring1. In the meantime, in the present structural example, the battery 22with high flatness is disposed right over the finger A, accordingly, itbecomes possible to raise fitness when the finger ring 1 is mounted onthe third joint of the finger A, which does not give a feeling of themounting of the finger ring 1 to the user.

The power source portion 23 is a DC/DC converter that generates apredetermined internal voltage from the battery voltage supplied fromthe battery 22 and performs electric power supply to each portion of thefinger ring 1, and is equivalent to the above power source portion 104(FIG. 2), the s power source portion 304 (FIG. 3), the power sourceportion 404 (FIG. 4), or the power source portion 604 and the powersource portion 615 (FIG. 5).

The voltage step-up circuit 24 is a circuit block that steps up theinternal voltage generated by the power source portion 23 to produce thedrive voltage for the piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conductionvibration portion 12, and is equivalent to the above voltage step-upcircuit 105 (FIG. 2), the voltage step-up circuit 305 (FIG. 3), thevoltage step-up circuit 405 (FIG. 4), or the voltage step-up circuit 605(FIG. 5).

The recharge circuit 25 receives electric power supply from outside toperform recharge control of the battery 22. In the meantime, as themethod for electric power supply from outside, a contact method using aUSB [Universal Serial Bus] cable and the like may be used, ornon-contact methods such as an electromagnetic method, an electric-fieldcoupling method and a magnetic resonance method may be used. Accordingto the structure that has the recharge means for the battery 22, batteryreplacement working becomes unnecessary, accordingly, it is possible toraise convenience of the finger ring 1. In the meantime, when formingthe finger ring type housing 50 to have a waterproof structure, from theviewpoint of completely excluding an external terminal, it is desirableto employ the non-contact methods as the electric power supply methodfor the recharge circuit 25.

<Communication Unit>

FIG. 9 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example ofthe communication unit 30. The communication unit 30 in the presentstructural example includes: a board 31; and a wireless communicationcircuit 32.

The wireless communication circuit 32 is directly mounted on a frontsurface of the board 31. Besides, the board 31 is also connected to thecable 40 for performing electrical connection with the main unit 10.

The wireless communication circuit 32 is a circuit block that performsthe short-distance wireless communication with the hearing device mainbody and the voice talk via the wireless telephone line, and isequivalent to the above short-distance communication portion 108 (FIG.2), the short-distance communication portion 409 (FIG. 4), or thetelephone function portion 611 (FIG. 5).

<Summing Up of the Disclosure>

The hearing system disclosed in the present specification is a hearingsystem that comprises a finger ring and a hearing device main body andhas a structure (21st structure), in which the finger ring includes: afirst short-distance wireless communication portion; a vibration outputportion disposed at a position that contacts a finger to convert a voicesignal, which is received by the first short-distance wirelesscommunication portion, into a cartilage conduction vibration and outputsthe cartilage conduction vibration; and a first power source portionthat performs electric power supply to the first short-distance wirelesscommunication portion and the vibration output portion; the hearingdevice main body includes: a second short-distance wirelesscommunication portion that performs wireless communication with thefirst short-distance wireless communication portion; a microphone; avoice signal output portion that makes the second short-distancewireless communication portion output the voice signal according to avoice captured by the microphone; and a second power source portion thatperforms electric power supply to the second short-distance wirelesscommunication portion, the microphone, and the voice signal outputportion.

In the meantime, in the hearing system having the 21st structure, astructure (22nd structure) may be employed, in which the finger ringfurther includes a power-source switch that turns on/off a power sourceof the first power source portion; and the second power source portionis remotely controlled in accordance with an on/off-state of thepower-source switch that is transmitted from the first short-distancewireless communication portion via the second short-distance wirelesscommunication portion.

Besides, in the hearing system having the 22nd structure, a structure(23rd structure) may be employed, in which the power-source switchincludes a self-holding function that holds the on-state for apredetermined self-time span; and count operation during theself-holding time span is reset at each turning-on operation of thepower source portion and restarted.

Besides, in the hearing system having any one of the 21st to 23rdstructures, a structure (24th structure) may be employed, in which thevibration output portion includes a piezoelectric bimorph; and the powersource portion includes a voltage step-up circuit that drives thepiezoelectric bimorph.

Besides, in the hearing system having any one of the 21st to 23rdstructures, a structure (25th structure) may be employed, in which thevibration output portion includes an electromagnetic vibration portion.

Besides, in the hearing system having any one of the 21st to 25thstructures, a structure (26th structure) may be employed, in which thehearing device main body is further connectable to an acoustic earpiece.

Besides, the hearing system having one of the 22st to 26th structuresmay be structured (27th structure) to be a hearing aid system.

Besides, in the hearing system having any one of the 21st, the 24th and25th structures, the finger ring may be structured (28th structure) tofurther include a microphone.

Besides, a structure (29th structure) may be employed, in which thehearing system having the 28th structure is a mobile phone system.

Besides, the hearing system disclosed in the present specification is ahearing system that comprises a finger ring and a hearing device mainbody and has a structure (30th structure), in which the finger ringincludes: a power-source switch that turns on/off a power source; afirst short-distance wireless communication portion that transmits anon/off-state of the power-source switch; and a first power sourceportion that performs electric power supply to the first short-distancewireless communication portion; the hearing device main body includes: asecond short-distance wireless communication portion that performswireless communication with the first short-distance wirelesscommunication portion; a microphone; a voice signal output portion thatoutputs a voice captured by the microphone as a hearing device voice;and a second power source portion that is remotely controlled inaccordance with the on/off-state of the power-source switch, which istransmitted from the first short-distance wireless communication portionvia the second short-distance wireless communication portion, andperforms electric power supply to the microphone and the voice signaloutput portion.

Besides, the finger ring for a hearing system disclosed in the presentspecification is a finger ring for the hearing system, and has astructure (31st structure), which includes: a short-distance wirelesscommunication portion; a vibration output portion disposed at a positionthat contacts a finger to convert a voice signal, which is received bythe short-distance wireless communication portion, into a cartilageconduction vibration and outputs the cartilage conduction vibration; anda power source portion that performs electric power supply to theshort-distance wireless communication portion and the vibration outputportion.

In the meantime, the finger ring for a hearing system having the 31ststructure may have a structure (32nd structure), which further includesa power-source switch that turns on/off a power source of the powersource portion, wherein the short-distance wireless communicationportion outputs an on/off-state of the power source portion to outside.

Besides, in the finger ring for a hearing system having the 32ndstructure, a structure (33rd structure) may be employed, in which thepower-source switch includes a self-holding function that holds theon-state for a predetermined self-time span; and count operation duringthe self-holding time span is reset at each turning-on operation of thepower source portion and restarted.

Besides, in the finger ring for a hearing system having any one of the31st to the 33rd structures, a structure (34th structure) may beemployed, in which the vibration output portion includes a piezoelectricbimorph; and the power source portion includes a voltage step-up circuitthat drives the piezoelectric bimorph.

Besides, in the finger ring for a hearing system having any one of the31st to the 33rd structures, a structure (35th structure) may beemployed, in which the vibration output portion includes anelectromagnetic vibration portion.

Besides, in the finger ring for a hearing system having any one of the31st to the 35th structures, a structure (36th structure) may beemployed, in which the hearing system is a hearing aid system.

Besides, the finger ring for a hearing system having one of the 31st,the 34th and the 35th structures may have a structure (37th structure),which further includes a microphone.

Besides, in the finger ring for a hearing system having the 37thstructure, a structure (38th structure) may be employed, in which thehearing system is a mobile phone system.

Besides, the finger ring for a mobile phone disclosed in the presentspecification is a finger ring that is used together with the mobilephone and has a structure (39th structure), which includes: ashort-distance wireless communication portion; a vibration outputportion disposed at a position that contacts a finger to convert a voicesignal from the mobile phone, which is received by the short-distancewireless communication portion, into a cartilage conduction vibrationand outputs the cartilage conduction vibration; a microphone thatconverts a voice into an electric signal and transmits the signal fromthe short-distance wireless communication portion to the mobile phone;and a power source portion that performs electric power supply to theshort-distance wireless communication portion, the vibration outputportion and the microphone.

In the meantime, the finger ring for a mobile phone having the 39thstructure may have a structure (40th structure), which further includesa control portion that receives an incoming alert signal via theshort-distance wireless communication portion to make the power sourceportion start the electric power supply.

Besides, the finger ring for a mobile phone having the 40th structuremay have a structure (41st structure), which further includes anincoming alert vibration portion that notifies an incoming based on theincoming alert signal.

Besides, the finger ring for a mobile phone having the 41st structuremay have a structure (42nd structure), in which the vibration outputportion doubles as the incoming alert vibration portion.

Besides, the finger ring for a mobile phone having any one of the 39thto the 42nd structures may have a structure (43rd structure), whichfurther includes a manual operation switch, wherein the short-distancewireless communication portion outputs a signal corresponding to acall/answer operation by the manual switch to the mobile phone.

Besides, in the finger ring for a mobile phone having any one of the39th to the 43rd structures, a structure (44th structure) may beemployed, in which the vibration output portion includes a piezoelectricbimorph; and the power source portion includes a voltage step-up circuitthat drives the piezoelectric bimorph.

Besides, in the finger ring for a mobile phone having any one of the39th to the 43rd structures, a structure (45th structure) may beemployed, in which the vibration output portion includes anelectromagnetic vibration portion.

Besides, the finger ring type mobile phone disclosed in the presentspecification has a structure (46th structure), which includes: a mobilephone communication portion; a vibration output portion disposed at aposition that contacts a finger to convert a voice signal received bythe mobile phone communication portion into a cartilage conductionvibration and outputs the cartilage conduction vibration; a microphonethat converts a voice into an electric signal and outputs the signalfrom the mobile phone communication portion; and a power source portionthat performs electric power supply to the mobile phone communicationportion, the vibration output portion and the microphone.

In the meantime, the finger ring type mobile phone having the 46thstructure may have a structure (47th structure), which further includesan incoming alert vibration portion that notifies an incoming.

Besides, the finger ring type mobile phone having the 47th structure mayhave a structure (48th structure), in which the vibration output portiondoubles as the incoming alert vibration portion.

Besides, in the finger ring type mobile phone having any one of the 46thto the 48th structures, a structure (49th structure) may be employed, inwhich the vibration output portion includes a piezoelectric bimorph; andthe power source portion includes a voltage step-up circuit that drivesthe piezoelectric bimorph.

Besides, in the finger ring type mobile phone having any one of the 46thto the 48th structures, a structure (50th structure) may be employed, inwhich the vibration output portion includes an electromagnetic vibrationportion.

Besides, the voice hearing method disclosed in the present specificationhas a structure (51st structure) which has: a step for converting avoice signal into a cartilage conduction vibration and transmits thevibration to a finger; and a step for pressurizing the finger against acartilage.

In the meantime, in the voice hearing method having the 51st structure,a structure (52nd structure) may be employed, in which the cartilage isa tragus cartilage.

<Other Variations>

In the meantime, besides the above embodiments, it is possible to addvarious modifications to the structure of the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. In other words, itshould be understood that the above embodiments are examples in allrespects and are not limiting. The technological scope of the presentinvention is not indicated by the above description of the embodimentsbut by the claims, and all modifications within the scope of the claimsand the meaning equivalent to the claims are covered.

For example, in the above embodiments, the description is performed, inwhich the hearing aid system and the mobile phone system are the hearingsystems independent of each other; however, the structure of the presentinvention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to build ahearing system that includes both the hearing aide function and themobile phone function.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is usable to achieve, for example, a hearing aidsystem and a mobile phone system that use the cartilage conduction andare useful.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   A finger    -   B ear    -   C ear cartilage (tragus)    -   1 finger ring    -   2 hearing device main body    -   3 ear piece    -   10 main unit    -   11 first board    -   12 piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion    -   13 control portion    -   14 drive portion    -   15 connector    -   16 second board    -   17 operation portion    -   20 power source unit    -   21 board    -   22 battery    -   23 power source portion    -   24 voltage step-up portion    -   25 recharge circuit    -   30 communication unit    -   31 board    -   32 wireless communication circuit    -   40 cable    -   50 finger ring type housing    -   100 finger ring    -   101 piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion    -   102 drive portion    -   103 control portion    -   104 power source portion    -   105 voltage step-up circuit    -   106 self-holding timer (power source switch)    -   107 remote control switch operation portion    -   108 short-distance communication portion    -   200 hearing aid main body    -   201 short-distance communication portion    -   202 ear piece connection portion    -   203 control portion    -   204 voice signal output portion    -   205 microphone    -   206 switch operation portion    -   207 power source switch    -   208 power source portion    -   300 finger ring    -   301 piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion    -   302 drive portion    -   303 control portion    -   304 power source portion    -   305 voltage step-up circuit    -   306 self-holding timer (power source switch)    -   307 remote control switch operation portion    -   308 microphone    -   309 voice signal output portion    -   310 echo canceller    -   400 finger ring type voice transmission/reception attachment    -   401 piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion    -   402 drive portion    -   403 control portion    -   404 power source portion    -   405 voltage step-up circuit    -   406 microphone    -   407 voice signal output portion    -   408 echo canceller    -   409 short-distance communication portion    -   410 call/answer operation portion    -   500 mobile phone main body    -   501 short-distance communication portion    -   502 voice signal input portion    -   503 voice signal output portion    -   504 telephone function portion    -   504 a voice transmission portion    -   504 b voice reception portion    -   504 c telephone communication portion    -   505 microphone    -   506 speaker    -   507 display portion    -   508 storage portion    -   509 control portion    -   510 power source portion    -   511 power source switch    -   512 switch operation portion    -   600 finger ring type mobile phone    -   601 piezoelectric bimorph cartilage conduction vibration portion    -   602 drive portion    -   603 control portion    -   604 power source portion    -   605 voltage step-up circuit    -   606 microphone    -   607 voice signal output portion    -   608 echo canceller    -   609 voice signal input portion    -   610 voice signal output portion    -   611 telephone function portion    -   611 a voice transmission portion    -   611 b voice reception portion    -   611 c telephone communication portion    -   612 display portion    -   613 storage portion    -   614 control portion    -   615 power source portion    -   616 power source switch    -   617 switch operation portion

The invention claimed is:
 1. A finger ring used for a hearing system,comprising: a short-distance wireless communication portion; a vibrationoutput portion disposed at a position that contacts a finger to converta voice signal, which is received by the short-distance wirelesscommunication portion, into a cartilage conduction vibration and outputsthe cartilage conduction vibration; a power source portion that performselectric power supply to the short-distance wireless communicationportion and the vibration output portion; and a power-source switch thatturns on/off a power source of the power source portion, wherein theshort-distance wireless communication portion outputs an on/off-state ofthe power source portion to outside; wherein the power-source switchincludes a self-holding function that holds the on state for apredetermined self-time span; and wherein count operation during theself-holding time span is reset at each turning on operation of thepower source portion and restarted.
 2. A finger ring used for a hearingsystem, comprising: a short-distance wireless communication portion; avibration output portion disposed at a position that contacts a fingerto convert a voice signal, which is received by the short-distancewireless communication portion, into a cartilage conduction vibrationand outputs the cartilage conduction vibration; and a power sourceportion that performs electric power supply to the short-distancewireless communication portion and the vibration output portion, whereinthe vibration output portion includes a piezoelectric bimorph; andwherein the power source portion includes a voltage step-up circuit thatdrives the piezoelectric bimorph.
 3. The finger ring according to claim2, wherein the vibration output portion includes an electromagneticvibration portion.
 4. The finger ring according to claim 2, wherein thehearing system is a hearing aid system.
 5. The finger ring according toclaim 2, further comprising a microphone.
 6. A finger ring used for amobile phone system as a hearing system, comprising: a short-distancewireless communication portion; a vibration output portion disposed at aposition that contacts a finger to convert a voice signal, which isreceived by the short-distance wireless communication portion, into acartilage conduction vibration and outputs the cartilage conductionvibration; a power source portion that performs electric power supply tothe short-distance wireless communication portion and the vibrationoutput portion; a control portion that receives an incoming signal viathe short-distance wireless communication portion to make the powersource portion start the electric power supply; and an incoming alertvibration portion that notifies a phone call based on the incomingsignal.
 7. The finger ring according to claim 6, wherein the vibrationoutput portion doubles as the incoming alert vibration portion.
 8. Afinger ring used for a mobile phone system as a hearing system,comprising: a short-distance wireless communication portion; a vibrationoutput portion disposed at a position that contacts a finger to converta voice signal, which is received by the short-distance wirelesscommunication portion, into a cartilage conduction vibration and outputsthe cartilage conduction vibration; a power source portion that performselectric power supply to the short-distance wireless communicationportion and the vibration output portion; and a manual operation switch,wherein the short-distance wireless communication portion outputs asignal corresponding to a call/answer operation by the manual switch tothe mobile phone.
 9. A finger ring used for a mobile phone system as ahearing system, comprising: a short-distance wireless communicationportion; a vibration output portion disposed at a position that contactsa finger to convert a voice signal, which is received by theshort-distance wireless communication portion, into a cartilageconduction vibration and outputs the cartilage conduction vibration; anda power source portion that performs electric power supply to theshort-distance wireless communication portion and the vibration outputportion, wherein the vibration output portion includes a piezoelectricbimorph; and wherein the power source portion includes a voltage step-upcircuit that drives the piezoelectric bimorph.
 10. The finger ringaccording to claim 8, wherein the vibration output portion includes anelectromagnetic vibration portion.
 11. The finger ring according toclaim 8, wherein the vibration output portion outputs the cartilageconduction vibration that is transmittable to an ear cartilage via afinger when the finger contacts the ear cartilage.
 12. The finger ringaccording to claim 11, wherein the ear cartilage is of a tragus.